It's a British Wrap at Sail Auckland 2011

Sail Auckland 2011 is over with the gold medals going to Nick Rogers and Chris Grube (GBR) in the 470. Double Olympic medallist for Great Britain Nick Rogers, sailing with Chris Grube was simply too good for the kiwis on the 470 course taking out today’s medal race and the regatta by a massive 17 point margin. The Britons won seven out of eleven races and were top two in all but one race.

Competition was tight among the chasing pack which featured NZL Sailing Team women’s crew Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie, and men’s crew Paul Snow-Hansen and Jason Saunders.

Aleh and Powrie found form over the second half of the regatta, putting up a tough challenge for Rogers and Grube in the medal race, crossing the finish just behind them to secure the silver medal. Snow-Hansen and Saunders held onto third for the bronze medal.

“The regatta has been a huge success,” commented Jez Fanstone, Olympic Programme Manager for Yachting New Zealand. “Takapuna Boating Club has hosted a great event, with plenty of close racing in all fleets. It’s great to have all the Olympic classes sailing from the same venue and there have been so many people down to watch the racing and join in on the action at the Club.”

The 470 Fleet will return to Takapuna next year, when Takapuna Boating Club hosts the 2012 470 Junior Worlds.

More Information:
Event website
Results

Images - top to bottom: Nick Rogers and Chris Grube (GBR), Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie (NZL), Paul Snow-Hansen and Jason Saunders (NZL) © Will Calver/Ocean Photography

Source: Jodie Bakewell-White